Emboldened Obama lays out battle plan as he launches second term

President Barack Obama waves to the crowd after delivering his inaugural address during the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington January 21, 2013. 

Obama's ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol was filled with traditional pomp and pageantry, but it was a scaled-back inauguration compared to the historic start of his presidency in 2009 when he swept into office on a mantle of hope and change as America's first black president.

Despite expectations tempered by lingering economic weakness and a divided Washington, Obama delivered a confident listing of his second-term plans for the battles he intends to fight, including over climate change, immigration reform and gay rights.

"We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate," Obama said as he stood in the wintry cold atop a giant makeshift platform on the Capitol steps overlooking the National Mall. "We must act, knowing that today's victories will be only partial."

Looking out on a sea of flags, Obama spoke to a crowd of up to 700,000 people - less than half the record 1.8 million who assembled four years ago.

 U.S President Barack Obama waves after taking the oath of office as his daughters Malia and Sasha (L-R) look on in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington, January 20, 2013. 

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) takes the oath from U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts as his wife Michelle Obama and daughters Malia Obama (2nd R) and Sasha Obama (R) watch during swearing-in

Beyonce (R) sings the national anthem as U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and Vice President Joe Biden (2nd R) look on during the swearing-in ceremonies on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol